Nick Carter Weekly (no. 182) (1900 06 23)
The text was read from the page scans by machine (OCR), so it has mistakes and its columns may run together. See the pages · About this title · At the Internet Archive
Page 1
Issued weekly Subscription price $2.5 per year. Entered as second class matter at the N. Y. vst Office by STREET & SmiTH. No. 182. ‘A - my: ah Price 5 Cents. WITH ONE QUICK SPRING CHICK CAUGHT THE BURLY GIANT BY THE THROA?.
Page 2
NICK CARTER 1 WEEKLY. % Bnierea according to Act of Congress in the wear 1900 by Str ite Smith, in the Office of the Librarian of Oongrese, ” Issued weekly. Washington, D. Entered as second class Matter at the New York, N. ¥., Post Office. Subscription price, $2.50 per year. June 43, 1900. STREET & SM1TH, Publishers. No 182. NEW YORK. 238 William 8t.,..N. Y. The Blood-Stained Check: OR, NICK CARTER IN THE DISSECTING-ROOM, CHAPTER I. nae + A BIG CHECK AFLOAT. a Nick Carter and his assistant, Chick, were sitting together in the Palmer House, Chi- cago, one day. late in October, when a soft _ knock sounded on the door of their room. Chick arose and opened the door to’ find a -., policeman in uniform standing in the hall- way outside. “T beg your pardon,’ moving his hat, “but Chief Brennan sent me , said the officer, re- here with this note.” As he spoke, the officer handed Chick a #Sealed envelope. sg _ Chick ‘motioned the officer to step inside, passed: the envelope over to his thief, and re- _ sumed his ‘Cigar. Nick frowned as he mastered the contents of the letter. “There is a big forgery case down at the office of the Wilmot ‘Trust Company,” he said, “and the chief. wants us teks ae | By the Author of ‘‘NICK CARTER.” aaa *. strikes me that we ene to have left Chi- cago yesterday,” he added, with a smile. “Well,” ing on a forgery case in Chicago we won’t be said Chick, “while we are work- . working on any other case in New York.” “You may tell the chief,” said Nick, turn- ing to the officer, “that I will look into the matter and Jet him know to-night.” The policeman took his departure, and ten minutes later Nick entered the private room of the president of the Wilmot Trust Com- — pany. “It is a bad case,” after Nick had made himself known, hope you will take it.” “Chief Brennan’s note refers to an eighty- “and I thousand-dollar check,” said Nick. “Has that check been paid?” “No,” replied the president, “but the cashier of the bank might as well have paid it. He certified it.” It may be necessary to state here that when 5 Cents. said that gentleman, ¥
Page 3
3 NICK CAR _ a cashier of a bank “certifies” a check, he sim- ply guarantees it. In other words, his cer- tification simply says: “This check is all right, sand the bank will pay it on demand, if pre- sented by a person known to the bank to be / entitled to draw the money on it.” cower tae forgery must be a remarkably good oe one,’ ” said Nick, "Or the cashier would never : have done that. Why didn’t he pay the * check instead of certifying it?” * --™“ Because the check was a very large one, and because the person who presented it was » not known at the bank.” “Well, what did the fellow do when he failed to get the money on the check?’”’, “He did a very foolish thing. He tried to ts. borrow money on it.” ae “When and wheat re ae “About two. o'clock, oe Beer ‘fe pieidane "a oT received a telegram from a hotel in Engle- dd, “asking if our company had recently ess iitted a check for eighty thousand dollars. ie -I*replied in the negative, and requested the 24 See erson exhibiting : such a see “That was right, “Tn half an hour I-received another dis- % “patch stating that the fellow had disappeared, _ taking the check with him.” ““How~did he come to show the check there?” “It seems that" he tried to borrow a thou- sand dollars on it.” | .“F rom whom—the clerk? id A “No, from a boarder at the hotel. Go on.’ boarder showed the check. to the clerk and ye asked him to ‘find out about it.” “Tt is strange that he should try to borrow “money on the check in advance of getting it cashed,” said Nick “Have you now told me 2 action?” ee ““T think: “50,” was the. ely. “Bverythin rad to be done by saa and we were ARTHR On ets pad oer some. eurside fits Se 22 on it, the bank which certified it would: have : pester of the hotel to cause the Arsest of any. The — 4 all you know about that part ais = trans- A > ay i so I sent for the chief of police. He seems, sent for you. When you get Englewood you will doubtless be able to jearn all about the a to borrow money” onthe check.” — er Sr said the detective. “Now,” continued Mr. Wilmot, * ‘we want you to recover ee ‘check. ont bring forger to justice.” - S27 =% prestme So,” “Tt seems to be a ote case,” feplied = Nick. “Besides, the check is now known to ~ be a forgery, and can do very little harm.” > “T don’t know about that,” said the presi- dent. “You must remember that the b has guaranteed the check. As the case ne : stands, we cannot be injured by the — 2 un the. pans aay ae to stand the loss?” “That is a question of law, but I am of fhe opinion that the bank is liable.” & “Well,” said Nick, “every bank in t country will be notified of the matter: is, every bank that would be likely to such a check—and the forger’ will have t work eine money on the pat may make a great deal of trouble.” “The officers of the bank will not rest, night or day, until they get their hands on iter ate: the president, “and I can’t pheats: ee them mutch. for their anxiety.” a eee said Nick: oe ae haps you had better send for. the cas hier who — certified the check.” ; De “Tt i ‘is a serious matter,”
Page 4
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “When was the check cegtified?” asked Nick. “Shortly after the opening hour this fore- noon,” | “Can you describe the ,person who pre- sented it?” , “He (was tall and slender and dark, with black hair and eyes.” “That is rather general.” “T remember now that his hair was rather: long . the neck. I noticed that as he turned away.” “Tad he whiskers or aeeiches nes “Fe had a heavy mustache.” “Do you now recall anything else about the - » fellow ?” The cashier shook his head. “Twas busy,” he said, “and should not a noticed him at all but for the size of the check.” Nick pondered a moment, and then turned to the president of the trust company. “Have you a private check-book?” he asked: va “Yes,” was the reply; “a private check- book with each check ip Leh in printed figures.” 7 “Was this chectt drawn on a blank from that book ?” “Tt was,” replied the cashier. “Were the signatures good imitations of \ the ¢ genuine ones?” t “Yes, ‘They would pass anywhere.” “Was the check numbered a “Certainly.” “Did you make a note 2 of the number i ” The cashier took a slip of Paper from his “pocket, “Yes, * he said, “the number was ueLaet 2 “That makes the matter easier, ee said. the - detective. | Then he turned to the poet “Let me see your check-book, ” he said. “T was Just about to -xamine nae yor came in,” so the president, handing out the book. . “Do you sign the checks ” asked Nick. ~ “No, that is done by the head eae He both draws and signs them.” ; The detective began a careful examination of the stubs. At first glance the stub of check No. 51° 451 appeared to be missing. Ps Check No. 51,450 seemed to have been fol- lowed in the check-book by check No, 51,452. - “That is singular,” said Mr. Wilmot, glancing over the detective’s shoulder. “I should have thought the maker of the check- book would have noticed that.” : “Wait a moment,” said Nick. “You will find it all right yet. That check was taken from this book.” “See,” he said, ina moment, “there aretwo stubs together here.” ea Nick pulled the stubs apart, and found thie stub he sought. ees It was stuck to the one in front of it. fit 5 It was numbered 51,451 and was the stub from which the forged check had been torn, but it was blank. ‘Nick made a note of the name on check stub No. 51,450 and turned to the presi- dent. “I haye it now,” he said. “Who is Ed-, ward Freeman?” “Our assistant nn es : “Fe drew his salary in the form of aicheck ee last Saturday, Shed the? I find his name on stub No. 51,450.” ’ eg “Then he must have re so,” said ig ; »president. ee “Now,” said Nick, “let me tell you what happened. Checks No. 51,450 and — Sie 451 wete. stuck together in the book. a aes! begin to understand,’ ” said the president, : excitedly. sil Sy “Edward Freeman feeives check No. 51,- e -450, and when it was. torn out of the book a is &
Page 5
Oe Se tad ea fae on n his handsome face. check No. 51,451 clung to it, the two stubs also remaining together, so closely together, in fact, that the bookkeeper did not notice the ae stub when he began his work this morning.” “Tt seems so.’ “Then,” continued Nick, “Edward Free- man received besides the check for his salary, a blank check last Saturday—blank check No. 51,451.” The president of the trust company sprang to his feet. ~ “J shall order the arrest of Mr. Freeman at once,” he said. “Tt looks black for him,” said the detective, = “but perhaps you had better hear his story before placing him in the hands of the law.” — Mr. Wilmot left the room and returned in a ' short time with the assistant bookkeeper. _ ent “im here?” asked the detective. peti ‘Mr. Wilmot shook his head. Then the detective turned toward the sus- pected man, ‘Edward Freeman was young, and muscu- lar and handsome, with light brown hair and mttstache and frank blue eyes. “He doesn’t look like a forger, the detective. “Now, Mr. Freeman,” began Nick, “you received your salary in the form of a check, ‘fast Saturday night?” _ feYOS7OIt : “What did you do with that check?” “Having no use for the money,” was the reply, “I kept it. this moment.” Will you let me see it?” - “Certainly.” ” thought I have it in my pocket ue The young man took out a long leather ~ pocket-book as he spoke and opened it.” _ After running through several compart- | ments, he looked up with a shade of anxiety NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ~ out. on the table, and the detective aided lim veaeet that person into, ‘roable” he ne d, “Does: Mr. Fr reeman know why he has been~ = “T am sure I put it in here,” he said; “and 5S) yet I cannot find it.” 4 Beker He turned the contents of the Feces: Bem in the search. The check was nowhere to be found.” “Tell me,’ csaid Freeman, “why Tam asked these questions.” ~ eee “All in good time,” said Nick. Did you fe examine the check after receiving it?” “Certainly not. I just put in in this book and went home.” ue “Did you show it to any one?” > Freeman hesitated. “Yes,” he said, ina moment; “I did.” ~ “Who was it?” Again the young man hesitated. payee “If my showing it to a person is iy BERS cline. to "atte fh Sete 2 “When did you show it?” “Saturday night.” “When you exhibited the check,” said “i Nick, “did you observe anything peculiar about it in regard to thickness or thinness?” “I remember of hearing the remark that - it rca, ’ was the Se it was drawn on = thick pepe The young ‘man saw we that a trap had hee: set for him in the seemingly innocent ques- : S, tion, and stopped. “You decline to state?” eee VCS EST es i Be ae “What is the character of the lady to whom ae 7 you showed the oe ?”” was Nick’s next é question, : Bets : ae The assistant bookkeeper started, and a an angry. flush swept over his face. eS te “Don’t get excited, » said Nick, with a smile. “Is she entirely respectable and above suspicion?” ss ae SESS site 3 $
Page 6
—————— NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ere ares t The detedtive handed the ‘suspected man the check-book. “Do you see anything peculiar about that?” he asked. Freeman examined the book and handed At back. . “Yes, sir,” he said. “There is a blank stub The stub next to the one representing my check is blank.” “Do you realize what that means?” ~ C: arelessness on the part of the book-. ' keeper,” was the reply. “Anythifig else?” “No, sir. = “Well,” said Nick, “when your check was torn out, the next blank to it was also torn out. In other words, you received a check for your salary and a check blank.” “Well, has that check blank made its vet pearance?’ asked Freeman. “Tt has.” “Then that ends the matter, I suppose,” said F reeman. “Not quite,” said the detective. “That ‘Blank check was filled in for the sum of eighty thousand dollars and oe at the bank for payment this morning.” Freeman turned pale. “My God!” he exclaimed. don’t suspect me?” . “You are: suspected,” said Nick, coolly. “Now. pérhaps you will tell me who, besides yourself,, handled me pea last Saturday night.” “T cannot.” es 2 “You know what the zante of your refusal “willbe?” “Yes.” 4 . bet. “And ‘still you refuse?” way in it. “You are throwing away the pa chatict’ yom have of. Proving your innocence,’ ’ urged Nick. “SThink amoment. The blank check ; may me become detach i from your check “¢ toa ; ba | “You stirely “VES, sir.” dea is while in the hands of that other person. In. that case she may have committed the for- gery.” a Lois “Impossible, df seacee the young n man. “Or,” continued Nick, “it may have been lost while you were exhibiting your check. In that case any other person may have found it and attempted to use it fraudulently.” . A gleam of hope shot into the young man’s eyes. 2¢ “Tell me where you were when you showed the check,” said Nick. The look of hope died out. “T can’t do it,” said Freeman. “It would simply amount to telling you the name of the person to whom the check was shown, That Person has trouble ea without my ee aft ing forte? ; “You may call an officer “Mr. Wilmot,” ; = said Nick. oe “This will kill my mother,” young man. . “Don’t blame me if you are taken | e ay prison,” said Nick, sternly. “Blame * your-- self.” : oS An officer soon arrived, and eae a al gasped the 3 taken from the TOOMS 51 Gist B ‘The detective. ene: the oieet. as he went out, to remain in the building with his prisoner until further orders. — : “Well,” said the “cma make of it.” “Tt looks rather black for Diino? said Nick, “still he may be innocent for all that.” “T don’t see how you can reach any such concltision,’ said the cashier, impatiently. “He takes - the ‘loss of his “own” Check; too “what do yous easily.” ae : at the | - of such gcctuatiy’ as ‘his arrest,” said Nick, “he overlooks that. Be- be stopped at the sides, payment on it bank.”
Page 7
y ae 6 “that he should refuse to give the name of the person’ to whom he exhibited the check.” “That person is his sweetheart,” said Nick. “Naturally he desires to keep her name-out of the case, whether he is innocent or not.” * “You state that he may be innocent,” said the cashier, “and still you place him under arrest.” : : -“T have formed no theory regarding his guilt or innocence,” replied Nick. ‘Wait until I have had a day of the case, and I can tell you more about it.” »“Well,” said the cashier, “you will never make be believe him to be an innocent man. ‘Why doesn’t he give the name of that per- son?” CHAPTER Il. THE FORGER’S VISITORS. _ Before leaving the building Nick went to his eae room where the officer sat with, prisoner, “Where do you liver” he asked, up of Freeman. The young man gave a number on Sone avenue. - “You are unmarried ?” “Ves, I live there with my mother.” Nick turned to the officer. _*#Tell Chief Brennan,” he said, him in a room alone and to give him every opportunity. of communicating with his “to place friends.” — ae Chick. - Then the detective went to his room where he had left Chick. “What is it?” asked the assistant, lighting another cigar. “Tt is a big forgery case,” was the reply. “There is a mystery connected with, it, too.” In a few words Nick explained the case. ' “Freeman acts mighty queerly,” said “What do you make of it?” Sie) may have lost the check and the blank one with a. s said Nick, Eg nt fens NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ara “and again he may - that case the name and address: will: have aided in the forge. ~The fest thing is to find out what sort of a man presented it at the hotel in Englewood. : “I suppose so. And then?” | “We must find out where Freeman “spent last Saturday evening.” “Flow ?” ei “By his mother. He will undoubtedly send a note to her. That note. ‘will ask her to see the person who saw the check last Satur- _ day night.” . “Undoubtedly.” “The note will not give the name or ad- dress of that person, for I*reeman is too sharp for that. - We can, however, find out what we want to know by watching: the z en, F , mother and her correspondence.” * “But she may not know the a: ava te. be in the note.” : : i “Tf she does not icc re eee she will — not be asked to” see her. Then we must find — out in some other way. W hile I go to Engle= : wood, you go to police headquarters, and be ready to deliver any note he may wish to send — out.” = ee “Good idea.” i “If you go to his mother, wat » Se- ly, and find out by the people ‘the vicinity ip what sort of a man Freeman is. If you go” anywhere — else be _ doubly “careful. The. 4 mother lives at this gdiiese”” ss ai a: Nick handed his. “assistant S card rae he J spoke. — aes ; Chick hastened away, and Nick took "es <p train for eas = spectable one, and found the ia intelligent» and perfectly willing to answer questions. 3 "Can you give mea description. of the a “gies asked for a loan on the check P asked es cube after stating hi : business, i 2) ae “Fe was tall. and slender and very thavis ae “What name aid he aes: under; =
Page 8
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. pier Sarge Bee 2 “John Roberts, Philadelphia.” “When did he come here?” “Last night.” ~» “Did he bring any baggage?” “Only a light valise.” “Did he appear to have business in the » neighborhood ?” “No; he just sat around the hotel.” “Is the man he tried to borrow: money of in the hotel now ?” The clerk smiled. Fe i is out looking for the young fellow,” he said, he finds him.” Why?” “Well, the man ‘who had the check: bags fs es girls must be slow about their work to-day.” About one o'clock he got to drinking heavily and started to be very much stuck on catds. a game in a private room. We don’t allow gambling here, if, we know it, but we can’t always catch on to the games.” *Tsee,” said Nick, with a smite, / _* “Well, this man Roberts, or’ whatever his - name is, being a little full, lost heavily. When he got broke he flashed this check and * put it up for a bs bet, never arine. poor losing, of course.’ PvE “And he lost?” eats Fe a5, ' Then the man who had won the ~ - pot brought the check to me and asked me to find out about it, first trying to get me to take it and advance eee. he had in it.” “Suspicious, eh?” / “Tt seems so. Well, ‘this “man Roberts “stood there while he was ‘talking to me, look-. a “sing. seared half to’ death, and insisting on having the check rent to him. He was pretty sober at that time.” 4 “I don’t doubt that,” said Nick, “Well, I had the check in my hand,’ .” con- a tinued the clerk, “and was trying to call up A the: Wilmot Trust: Company, in order to find ont something about _ the matter, when the man who had BAG “There will be a first-class scrap if check went into ‘the bar-room a moment. ey soon as he. diss appeared, Roberts, as he called himself, — sprang at.me like a tiger, snatched the check from my hand, and dashed out of the place.” “The man who. won the pot will hardly ~ find him,” said the detective. “He may be | out of town before this. Did he look like a. city man?” ; . “Decidedly so.” “Can you show me the roém he scbuupted ie “Certainly.” : Accompanied by the detective, the clerk took the elevator to the second floor and en- tered a front room. “Why,” he said, looking around the place, “itvis just as he left it this morning. The’ © “Ah,” said Nick, stepping up to the dresser, “the ‘fellow had curly hair, didn’t he?” “Yes; but how did you find that out ” a ~ “He was disguised,” was the sepia ae he stood here: arranging his wig. It came down a little too far on the temples nae he clipped it off. . Here are the pieces.” “Disguised,” repedted the clerk, “I: “never , should have pues it He looked all right. a : _ “That shows that we have a cunning =e inal to deal with, if he did a foolish thing in. staking the check,” said Nick. Bbc how dark was he?” "= “Very dark. “T took him for a pens es" sy “As dark as that?” Nick held up a piece of cloth as he asked the question, “Tust about,” was the wor sagas “He used ita to. put the color on with,” _said Nick. “See, there is another piece of ‘his complexion on the edge of that towel.” The clerk looked at the detective in open- mouthed astonishment. | “I guess you have handled cases like this before,” hake said. j _xec,
Page 9
> re Ftc. seb 7 “Qne or two,” replied Nick, with a smile. “The fellow smoked a good many cigars here,’ he continued. “Did he get them in the house ?” “Yes. He sent down for some quite late last night.” “By whom did he send?” , “The hall-boy.” “Will you call the boy here, please?” The hall-boy was soon in the room. “Who ordered the cigars?” asked Nick. “No. 27's friend,” was the reply. said the “The boys go by that in referring to “That is the number of the room,” clerk. * guests of the house.” “Had a ariesia here, did he?” asked Nick. m Yes, ssir.’ “Describe him.” ?and a white face.” . “Light mustache and blue eyes?” 6S, SIT; Nick barely suppressed an exclamation. of astonishment. ; The description was that of Edward Free- man. “Did you hear the dark man say any- thing?” was the next question. “You mean No. 27?” asked the boy. “Of course—the dark man.’ “Huh!” said the boy. ‘He wasn’t dark. 2 “Look out now,” said the clerk, “and tell *. thes truth. This man is an officer.” : “Well,” persisted the boy, “No. 27 wasn’t dark. He was as white as the other man, only he had black eyes and straight black hair.” “Straight black hair?” REN SS, Bir.” After ‘some further talk the boy was Rect away, but the detective called him back to ask if any one ee called on No. 27 that wed: night. He: was a nice-lookin’ feller, with: light ; 3 clerk. ~ asked ee. clerk. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ETE replied in the negative, and went whic: tling down the hall. f “This knocks me out,” said the clerle, “What do you think: now?” aS “It is easy enough,” replied Nick. “The fellow knew some one would visit him and ‘removed ae disguise, eating, it on he this morning.” 2 Z “That must be it,” said the tilting clerk. Just then the boy was heard pone on the door of the room. eee “Say,” he said, when admitted, “No.-27 : had a man here this morning, he did.” “Who saw him?” asked Nick, “The chambermaid.” “Send the chambermaid here,” said t the clerk. | ; : Soe “In a! ‘few momients | a very pretty. ‘girl _en- tered the room. = “Yes,” she said, on iete questioned, ew e 27 had a,caller this morning.” pa “Describe him,” said Nick. a eee “He was tall and stoop-shoulder, with es haggard face and the brightest eyes I ever saw in a man’s head.” ie Nick handed the girl a dolar. “You are the first woman I ever knew to give a concise description oO! @ man, ” he said, “What else did you notice about him?” zstAT noticed that he smelt strongly of drugs as he; passed me in the hall.” “What kind of drugs ?” ie “T don’t know, sir.” F ae: Sige, “Tt wasn’t whisky, was it?” asked the — _ “Oh, no, sir.’ “What time was the’ man here?” asked Nick. ve “He came Acoag nine © ‘clock, and remaine ed along time”? oe) : “Ts that the: reason why. you a Skipped thee room in doing up ag work this Toten? Me as
Page 10
OWE ROS | -{Yes, sir.” ~ “Then he probably remained until nearly noon?” AX should think so. Nick bent over the wash-basin and sniffed ; ‘vigorously. “. out.a word. Bean ee. "i It read: : : ker ears “My DEAR Moruer £54 am under arrest, but I ain intlocent, There must be no con= cealment from. Edith. Break the news to a / _her gently, 2 and hope for the best. ; it z CF Epwarp.” | “Tell. me about it, rf. » said the woman, who | 3 ‘in Se, to have aged five years since Eos : ® Sal ad | you ee your es ast Saturday a i Oe Rees - ie P 9 « sGetcaly ae hot usual. 78 eo
Page 11
sigs (ero NICK CARTER WEEKLY. =~ : “Yes: He received a check instead of cur- AES e rency.” 4 Nick thought of the Soditagie in ‘the dh “Did you see the check?” ‘bowl at the hotel in Englewood. << “I did not.” The woman did not notice the exclamation, ; “Where did he go that evening?” °° and Niele went on. io: Sn “To see the girl mentioned in. that note, . . ‘What. sort of a man is Dr. Harlan? De- Miss Edith Harlan.” serie him.” rae a fi “What is she to him?” De “THe is tall, slightly gray about ithe ee ‘ % “Fe hopes to make her his wife.” ples, and very stoop-shouldered. - His eyes E: _ “What time did he return home?”, -\are dark and very large and bright.” ‘ “About. ten o'clock.” ; '- “Well,” thought the detective, “the case. “Did he speak of Ping called at sg other seems to be_an easy one, after all. This is . place during the evening ?” \ ; the man who ‘called at room 27 this morning. E “He did not.” ie .~ . “What is his“ reputation?” was Ane next “Did he mention having shown her the. Sees. ; check ?” ea ‘believe he is not well fiona of. re Pees So ed don’t approve of My son's attentions to his “Did he say anything more about the adopted daughter, but. Tha never s0 ex: check, either that night or afterward?” ~ ‘pressed. myself to Edward? fe a ai He did not.” Neral eo Does Dr. Harlan have a o'0d ‘Brictice™ “Where was he on Sunday?” -. “He has practically none at all. ‘He lives | “At home.” “in a cottage surrounded | by ieee grounds, e “Was he also at home on Sunday night? ?’ and ewgies most of his time to his flowers— “ Be “No, sir. He went to see a. friend in: - mostly poisonous—and his skeletons. “He is . gre Englewood. ea +. a -erank on the subject of dissection and “Did he tell you the name of the lead ee anatomy.” ; “He did not.” “ - “How does is jee! Poe “What time did he get hofne ?” \ “About eleven o'clock.” if “Did you see him that igh after his Fes 6 turn 2? s iS te \ at CaS a 4 a : fies, 2] -eaited for him.” naan Joa gs el” son: a ioe in oe ie co, of N, = ; ~ Miss “Harlan?” ei tae “How aid: he appear? Did you neice lu Zo i : is je i mali: li rs 19 ‘ anything unusual in his appearance?” pene. so- ae Jasper toy a8 “¥ thought He acted eeearigely Fateh. de- f “What do: you know about hi jm? "presse qd Mee ra “Nothing, except that he i is av red a the : ‘ 3 Site doetaii: a d id: t - “Now, where Woe Edith Filan lime ?? <3 8 rte. tat oo ae ie be very BRE “wealthy.” ame ; “ , » MEER Na ¥ ; : ; With her father i in Maplewood”. ; Raa s a es = eye ce business is fs fates int We eg EN gone or tw ce." a only hei father east, He Poet Se “He j is tall and s) i; her when she was: an infant. Hei is a sur-— & - eyes, and a i
Page 12
ie CARTER WEEKLY. 2 = as well make a couple of arrests and go home. This is the man who presented the check for payment.” “ “Now,” said Mrs. Freeman, me about the charge against my son, and ex- “will you tell plain why you have asked these questions ?” “Certainly,” said Nick, and he told her the _ .whole story of the scene in the office, saying nothing of the Englewood incident. — , “You will find my son’s check in the said Mrs. “and you will Maplewood cottage,” Freeman, after listening to the recital, also find the forger there. had nothing to do with it.” Nick very wisely said nothing regarding Eidward’s visit to the man at the ee hotel. Tam sure my son man, and the detective was heartily sorry for the gray-haired mother, who reposed such /eonfidence in her boy. It looked very like a scheme between the three men, though why Edward should be mixed up in such an affair with his rival was more than Nick could understand. “T’d like to know,” thought Nick, as he left the house, “who presented the check at the bank this morning if Edward was at his desk ‘and the doctor and Jasper Malloy were both in room 27 at the Englewood hotel? I must think that out.” The woman had given him the street and number of the Maplewood Cottage, and he | decided to go there at once. He met Chick soon after leaving the house, ¥ listened to a good report of the Freemans, and the two detectives crossed to the West Sidésy ae CHAPTER III. A aie POISONER. : “The Harlan cottage ‘stood some distance - north of Fullerton avenue, | ‘in Maplewood, : a pretty suburb : Chicago, It looked blacker than ever for the young at It was surrounded by an acre or more of inclosed grounds, which were thickly studded with trees and shrubs. The cottage itself was an old-fashioned structure, with wings and additions reaching out in every. direction. In the rear was a large ees. con- necting with the cottage. = It was at least three hundred feet from any house, the grounds: across the street being unoccupied. “Now,” said Nick, when they reached ee place, ‘ ‘you hang around on the outside, while T see what I can learn by going in.’ “Are you going to arrest the doctor?” asked Chick. “He's one of ‘the men we want, sure.” “That depends on circumstances; ” was the reply. It was now about seven o’clock, and conse- quently dark, so Chick had no difficulty in concealing himself near ' the cottage. “Nick walked up the path leading to the front door, and rang the bell. In a moment the door was opened by a handsome, stylishly dressed young lady, who seemed to be annoyed at finding a sien on the porch. “T am looking for Miss Edith Harieas said the detective, wondering if the woman — before him was the one who had captured the affections of the assistant bookkeeper. “What do you want of her?” asked the: woman, of girl, rather, for she was not more . than eighteen. “T come from Mr, Edward ee re+ plied 'the detective, “and I wish to see Miss Harlan alone.” A sudden expression of interest came into the girl’s face. : “Come in,” she said, with a smile which seemed to the detective to be forced, “I am Edith Harlan.” Nick followed the handsome girl ‘into a | Aa on
Page 13
12 . plainly furnished parlor, and was handed a chair. “First,” said the detective, “is your father in the HOES presence.” “A moment ago,” said the girl, “ou stated that you wished to see me alone.” “Well,” replied Nick, “at that time I did not know that I was addressing Miss Har- lan.” ee Pars . : “My father is not here,” am alone in the house with the servants.” The girl was beautiful, beyond all question, still Nick did not like her looks. “She is sharp as a steel-trap,” he thought, “but her face is far from being an innocent one. Well, Edward Freeman is not the first - young man who has been led into crime x a S54 a ‘handsome, ‘treacherous ‘woman. ieee 7 ed Tm that case,” said Nick, in reply to the ‘girl, “T must do my business with you alone.” “Proceed, please.” ‘ Thus far Nick had not encountered a single “obstacle in the case. In fact, the case now ‘seemed to be an unimportant one, and he was in a hurry to close it. Therefore, he made a bold beginning in addressing’ himself to the sori Z He’ pursued the same course that Edward Freeman himself would have pursued, had he been present in person, and firm in the resolve taken at the trust company’s office—the re- solve to keep the girl he loved out of the case, at whatever cost to himself. “exhibited a That check “Mr. Freeman,” he began, _ check here last Saturday. night. has now disappeared.” Pr The statement was half a question, for _ Nick wanted to see what the girl would say, ~ but she remained silent. “He ‘now desires,” continued ‘Nick, “that you forget the circumstance entirely, ; and. that . - you talk with no one on the subject.” ; ull no answer. ‘NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Tf so, I prefer to talk in his said the girl. “I. all hazards.” haven't made a single point yet.” oe “Complications may arise because wf his action on Saturday night,” Nick went on, d “put, whatever takes place, he desines you to be kept ‘entirely oe Suspicion.” =~ “Above suspicion,” repeated the ‘gin “That is a strange expression to tse to ‘me? “You recall the circumstance | to which [ allude?” asked Nick. The girl did not reply. : The detective was not progressing” very 2 rapidly. ions, “The check will be asked for,” continued : Nick; “but he relies bie Se to remain silent.” : ras Then the woman opened her |e not to make rep but to ee a be itn aaewees ; = = < He was ‘afraid te “had” already said ae much. * res : } “That is neither here nor there,” he finally ee said. “Mr. Freeman wants to protect vO: at % Without replying, the girl "ree iS and walked toward the door. “Excuse me a moment,’ * she said. “ih have overlooked. a slight matte : of detail in the kitchen, and ‘must attend to it me ONCE,” gawd “That girl,” < ‘thought © Nick, “is aout as sharp a female as I ever ran across, I on Finding himself alone i in the room, ae arose ae and looked keenly about. At one end of the apartment | was a large writing-desk, and» he at once approached it. : The writing-table was down, and Nick be hastily gathered up ts ‘sheets ‘of paper with ; which it was littered. a) Many of them bore’ very pagel is of the signature of the ‘president of the Wil- mot aes ae
Page 14
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. He had barely time to place the papers in | his pocket, and move away from the desk, when the girl re-entered the room. “You asked for father a moment ago,” she said. ‘He has just come in, and will see you in his study.” Nick arose and followed the girl from the room. After passing through two connecting rooms, he was shown into an apartment at the rear of the house. ; Through a glass door to the south he could see into the conservatory he had observed be- fore entering the cottage. The room was long and narrow, the walls being lined with shelves and cupboards. : The windows were protected by heavy. iron shutters, which were now closed. said the “so you need not ; “Father stores his treasures here,” girl, with a faint smile, wonder at finding it more like a prison than a room in a respectable house.” : With the girl leading: the ey ‘Nick. passed through the room, and entered a small, bare, ~ closet-like apartment opening from it. The furniture of the place consisted of a small’ table and two old wooden-bottom ' chairs. , “Why,” _ “father-is not here. said the girl, drawing back, He must have stepped out for a moment. Be erat please. He will doubtless return at once.’ The detective seated himself i in one of the chairs, and the girl went away, leaving the » door opening into the next room ajar, but “as closing the one leading from that apartment ie the ‘main part of the cottage. ; Vick arose and stepped out into the larger room. - The sites om piléd high with the bones _ of animals, Ki s Saad: here and there a skeleton “leaned against we walls. . oe Aa se after. cupboard. “had walked into a trap. ieee _ inner side. : rubber, thus making the closet practically air- 13 Then the detective recalled the words of the assistant bookkeeper’s mother. z “He is a crank on the subject of dissection and anatomy.” The sight of the skeletons was too ghastly for Nick to regard with any degree of com- posure, and he soon returned to the little den where he was to await the arrival of the doc-— tor. The closet—for it was little better—had no windows, and the ceiling was very low, = most within reach of his hand. : He rapped softly on the walls with his knuckles, and they gave forth a ee me- tallic sound. ; “Tt is a queer pace id thotght Nick She wonder what the doctor uses it for?” Just then the door connecting with ‘the outer apartment closed without any visible agency. zi Then the detective eae to realize that he wks sae = wrk: % “How coolly Miss Bdith Hara carried out her part of the scheme,’ he thought. “What an actress that girl would make. Freeman would better go to prison fora few | years than be tied to her for his’ whole life. Now, I wonder how Iam to get out of here?” It was a great relief to know that Chick was not very far away. Nick examined the door, and found that it was fastened, there being no key-hole on the — “The casings were padded with tight. SSeS While Nick puzzled over the matter, he: teas called the interesting details of a newspaper clipping he had recently read. The article ‘described a place similar to the one in which he now found himself. In fact, the doctor’s closet ‘might have been con- _ structed on the plans laid down in the article, _ so Sys an ampitation was it t of the. one — written of. os TR ike;
Page 15
ié ope NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ‘The closet, the article stated, was used by a very humane anatomist, for the purpose of destroying animals of the larger’sort doomed for. dissection. The animals were placed in a closet, -ac- cording to the clipping, and all outer air shut * out. Then a destroying gas was forced into _ the place by means of protected openings in the walls. It was stated that the creatures died with- out pain, and, what was more to the purpose —from a scientific standpoint—without mu- -tilation or loss of blood. The character of the poisonous gas had not been described. _ “Nitrogen,” thought Nick, “might be made by placing heated copper filings inside. of tubes conveying’ common air into ‘the route the copper filings absorbing the oxyecnnd in the air ie “Tn that case, however, the nitrogen would carry the odor of carbolic acid gas, which can only be removed by forcing the nitrogen through a solution of potash. “This the poisoners would not take the pains to do, so, if I am to die by nitrogen, I shall be warned by the catbolic acid smell, “The scheme may be all right for small animais, but I do not believe enough poison "can be forced into this room in any such - way_to take the life of a healthy man.’ y ~ The detective watched patiently for.some af indications of carbolic acid gas. Presently he felt a sense of suffocation, and _ then he detected the.odor he feared. = Then the flame of the lamp on the table gtew dim, and died out. Nick cried out with all his ’strength, hoping ae to attract the attention of his assistant, who : could not be very far away. desperate one. falling by the door. - amazement. “His unimportant case had developed into a -toward the door. Gasping for ‘breath, he reeled about, finally Then he heard the sound of breaking glass in the direction of the conservatory, felt - gush of fresh air, and all was blank. Pa CHAPTER IV. THE DOCTOR'S SHOES, When Nick Carter regained consciousness he was in bed at the Palmer House. At first he could not remember what -had happened, and then smiled as he saw a physi- cian over him with a look of anxiety on his face. “What is it?” he asked. At the sound of his voice Chick arose poe a chair and approached the bed. “You had a mighty close call,” said the assistant. | : “Yes,” said the ian “for nea we could not tell whether you would live or die.” “That gas is enough to kill any one,” said Chick. “I got a pretty good sniff of it a self.” =A Then the scene at the Harlan cottage ¢ came back to the mind of the detective. “How did you’ get in there!” asked Nick, grasping Chick by the hand, oe “T broke through the omer" was poe the reply. ae eens . — “But the door?” “It was bolted on the outside,” relies Chick. “There was no lock. I guess the doctor never had anything larger than a oe in there before night before last.” — . “Night before last?” repeated aiek in © “How long have I pect se here?” , Chick looked at his yatcte and saw that it was nine o’clock, a “Just about forty- eight Meaty Al he said The ee on his i ee hihet Wie Se is useless for me to Wet my patient
Page 16
NICK CARTER WHEKLY. will talk. You must“keep him as quiet as possible, however.” “Now,” said Nick, anxiously, as the physi- “tell me about it. How does. the case stand?" “Well,” began the assistant, “I was stand- ing in the rear of the conservatory when you cian disappeared, 3 _passed into the death-trap. \ + den fenee to rest a bit. “I saw the girl—remarkably baadsome + girl, too—go away and leave. you, and then I _ Saw the door close. I was just'making up ; “my mind to get to you in some way, when I “heard a faint call.” “Faint,” ‘said Nick, strength,” “T \used cag my: “Well, the doors deadened the sound of © , your voice, then. ~ and T bolted through the glass window of the conservatory, opened the door, and dragged you out.” “And had a battle with the inmates a the added Nick. ; “No,” was the reply. “No one appeared. The girl and servants must have been in a distant part of the house.” _“Probably,” suggested Nick. not be used to scenes of murder.” cottage,” ra “You lay like a log in my arms, and you “aren’t a remarkably light man,” resumed Chick, “so I laid you down back of the gar- While there I saw lights in the ST: and heard the girl’s voice. “All she said was that her tigate fad opened the door in some way, and escaped by shattering the conservatory windows.” “To whom was she speaking—the doctor! id “No, to a giant of a fellow, who seemed to . I reckon he is the doctor’s assistant.” : bea servant of some sort. “They never suspected t that Er had had help = r from: the outside?” 4 oF "No.”” fag ae eng “That tis excellent. Whar ‘next?”, “ ‘There was no one in sight, “They may) f° walked right up to them. 5 Zeca 15 “] got you here, calted the ee and went’ back to the = as fast as a cee Trae horse could’ carry me.” “That’s right, my boy,” said Nick, heartily, Be “never neglect business. Work comes first, sick people second.” 3 “When I reached the place, T iced the we and the giant trying to repair the damage 1 had done to the conservatory. I hustled back to a glazier’s shop, found ihe fellow - asleep in his place. of business, got what I “wanted by paying a good price for it, and . hastened back to the cottage.” “That’s pure luck,” said Nick. “Hardly,” replied Chick. “I have been, in Maplewood before, and T knew right where to find a glazier asleep, half drunk, in his shop. I occupied that shop one night while | working a-case, and the glazier was drunk all — night. Well, they were still trying to repair the damage I had done when I poeh back, and od aN “T said it was a wonder they wouldn’t a an honest, hard- -working man a job fixing the ~ windows, and they looked at mé mighty sts piciously, I can tell you. “They wanted to know who I was and -~ what I was doing there at that time of night, and T said my narhe was Jones, and that I worked for the glazier af whom I had pro- | cured my outfit. Then I added that T had — been in the outskirts doing a job, Tati was just getting home when T heard them rattling the glass in the conservatory.” = “You are improving asa good, pee prevaricator,” said Nick. “T think it must be because of this & company I keep,” said Chick, with a wink. “Well, after some Jewing, they: employed me to do- the job. - Es ‘ “T-asked them, how the and they said a dog jumped ier it, which ne was ‘not very “coniplimentary to mee ae “Go on.” eo oom lass got ieee : rs 7 Li sae
Page 17
16 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. z s a “Well, sir,” resumed Chick, “do you know who doubtless led Edward Freeman to his that job kept me there most of the night?” “Until the doctor got home, I suppose,” said Nick. : : “Exactly: Yori see, they wanted it done just so, because it was a chilly night, and they were afraid‘ their costly plants would be in-: jured by the frost. I got it most done once, but the doctor was not there yet, so I tumbled through a pane and had to do it all over again.” Nick laughed heartily. “The giant swore at me, and offered to punch my head on the most liberal terms,” continued Chick; “but kept my temper. At last I got sight of the doctor, and he was a “sight.” ; “In what way?” “His cdothing was torn, and he was mud from one end to the other. And his shoes! "You ought to have seen those shoes! They were loaded down with earth—not the kind of earth you see on the surface, but the kin eg that comes from deep in the ground.” “What do you make of that?” asked Nick, navi a slight smile. “Twill answer. your question. by asking ene,” replied thé assistant. find in the closets opening from the doctor’s a waaie oom? Looking through the glass of | “What did you ~ ruin—is a murderess. be dead now.” “They are a bad lot,” replied Nick, phe the doctor bring a body home with him that night ?” Yes,” Nick started. Si “Did you see it?” he asked. “No.” “Then how do you know he boi home?” Soe You are supposed to “I heard him tell the ae to put acta thing into thé pickling vat,” was the reply. “What do they usually put into Me Poe: vat?” a ie “Bodies for dissection, of course.” 4 - “Then that settles it,” said Chick, - “We'll catch the old man at ae tricks before we get done with him.” “But all this,” ad Nick, a does not ete. d how the doctor got his clothes torn.” “T can’t understand that myself,” was the: gee reply. “He might have been discovered, and < had a fight with the watchman at the ceme-_ “tery.” “In that case te said Nick, “he would r have got off with the body, and, again, Nie papers would have been full of ‘the affair, the conservatory, I saw you examining ” This robbing of ; graves is something the pub- them” ». “Human skeletons,” replied Nick, briefly. “Well,” continued Chick, “how does the ‘doctor’ procure his skeletons? By taking dead men and women from their graves. He ~~ must have been at i that night, oud so got his Mlotigs in a muss.’ ce : “You are cane right,” said Nick. ‘Besides being a forget and a maniptilator of disguises, our. student of anatomy is a BEeSurS pel rectionist, a gtave robber.” r fous the woman » you. ee said. Ae ‘ lic will not stand, and the papers always kicks a up a big row over it.” ee “Well,” said Chick, “we'll have. 6 nds out: FS about the clothes wher you get out agai : “What has become of the doctor 2” asked Nick, after a short silence. See ee “He’s hanging about as if. setting had ape pened’ Sots, ; Fas : ; “That shows that ‘he. was not site b watchmen in the cemetery that night,’ » said’ » Nick; ; “still he must nae hada hand- to-hand Ava th with some one.“ at he hee oe the
Page 18
“Judging: Pom his appear once; he fought some one hard. ze ’ continued Nick, Why are the people at the “There's another thing,’ “and that is this: ; cottage so unconcerned regarding the where- B abouts and the probable action of the man _ they tried to murder there!” ° _ “TI have been thinking about that,” replied ~ Chick, “and I have made up my mind that they believe you to be dead—that you died - from: the effects of oe poisonous gas after you made your escape.” ) “That is probably the correct solutidn of the matter,” said Nick. “Besides being a _ bad lot, they are also a bold lot, and willing ‘to take wide chances.” “T should say so.” “And still,” mused the detective, “from their standpoint, they do not appear to be tisking much by living in the old place as if nothing had happened.” “How-so?” 45 : “First, they, believe they succeeded in kill ing the man who found his way into the ~ house, and talked about the missing check.” “Yes, we will admit that, from their stand-_ knows nothing of what has been discovered ~ point they have nothing to fear from. him.” “Second, the doctor got away with the body, ‘without detection, and got jt home.” “Probably. z “Well, then, what have they to fear? You must remember that the forgery case has fot _ yet attracted their attention to any alarming _ extent.” appease a, “But there is Jasper Matty’ * 7 > “What about him? We must pik him up pratonee.’” i a eae ‘He has ‘dierppedred — bathe : _ The detective. came very near. springing: - from the bean in his caer excitement. wes _ “Speaking of Freeman,” said Chic : NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Chick ; “not alarmed at his arrest. some reason, to have him convicted.” 179% “When and where was he last seen?” asked Nick, lying down, again. “He went out with Harlan the night you were at the cottage.” : “Well, did he return with him?” “No. ” “Go on. I see “ty your face yee there is more to tell,” “They left the cottage together,” resumed — “Dut did not stay together long. Jasper was seen at a road house alone in an hour’s time.” “At a road house?” asked Ree way from the city?” i “Tn the direction of the cemetery.” AY? “The young ind was drinking heavily there, and playing cards, but did not remain’ very long. From that time to this I have not been able to find hide or hair of the fellow.” Nick spent several moments in a aea ae study. ee ees ~ Do you think he has taken alarm aon run away?” asked Chick. Ns “Which - > Why should he run away? He in the forgery matter. He knows that Free- man is under arrest, and that i is about all he does. know. He doesn’ t - suspect that we tracked him to Englewood.” “T' can‘t understand it, ” said Chick. y “The job was put ap to stick Freeman,” said Nick, “and so the other conspirators are They mean, for. ” “Freeman might peach,” “They think to outswear him, ik he dese es ee No, there is no Feason why Jasper Malloy gcies run away.” as “He may have met with fout play, : sug- © gested ‘Chick, , ; ee mi oe Nick smile, but au nothing.
Page 19
3238 a pause, “brings us back to first principles. The young man still declares his innocence.” “Flave you seen his mother?” | « “No,” : “She may be able to give us some points.” “Especially regarding the Harlans,” added Chick. “You had better go there at once,” Nick. : “Tt is ‘late, and she may not receive me,’ said said the assistant, looking: at his watch. “Yes, she will,” replied Nick. “She will talk with ahy one whé has a hand in the case _ against her son.” “Then I had better go at once.’ "Ves, and-find out: if Mrs. Freeman has been to the Harlan cottage, and, if so, what she saw and heard there.” is Chick hastened BH RY: si was gone a long “time. é “When he Peried: he evinced considera- * ble excitement. “What is it?” asked Nick, regarding the. flushed face of his usually calm assistant with a smile. “Mrs. Freeman followed us to the Harlan cottage on the night you got eect “Followed us ?” “I don’t mean that she shadowed us,” © plained Chick. -“I mean that she got there - about as soon as we did. (feta i “She was met at the door by the. girl, who pronided you with ‘such snug quarters.” “You mean Edith Harlan.” _ Again the face of the agsistant flushed with - excitement. . “The girl. you saw,” he said, * Edith Harlan we have imagined her to be.” “Who is she?” demanded Nick. + but the wife’ of the doctor.” = al Ss “house?” Kei See ay ~ NICK CARTER WHEKLY. | Se - where is the daughter?” ‘seems to know too much to suit the villainous Cx- > “ dsconss ‘is not. the “She announced herself to. Mrs. Freeman tA _ doctor's death-trap. Nt as: Edith Harlan; not the adopted. ee : | “His wife? “How long has ‘she been i im the “Only a few days.” “Well, if the woman I saw is “the wile, “She has left the cottage.” “What do they say about her?” . Be woman. refused to account for her ab- sence.’ ; “Thats very seseees “It may be,’ suggested Chicky, ° “hat she has eloped with Jasper Malloy.” if “Pshaw ! Jasper is the Sector s favorite. 5: If she has gone away on his account it was to ~ get tid of a This opens up a new ee a of the case.’ cpa “You fink the pe fasone F reerhan in 4 this case.’ . “She. probably does. At any rate, she doctor and the woman who calls herself his wife.” : “Then she may have been murdered co. a conspirators,” said Chick, with a shudder, — aig “No,” replied Nick, “Jasper wants to make — her his wife. He would not consent to such * a thing. I believe he is helping to get. Free- man out of a way, because the ent foves him.” “But Jasper has also. dei eared.” “Well, they: may both have "bic ni aie said Nick, “although T can’t. under- : stand why the doctor should want hing. out -- the mate ! b CHAPTER pee tgs “THE MAN IN THE CARRIAGE, ene “The next, morning the detective was able” to resume. work on. the case, although he still felt the effects of his” Abhi: ~ He first. paid a visit 40 Raward Free whom: he found looking eS and dist ened fot HTS: He had already been infor
Page 20
| ‘ Nick Cabra WEEKLY. Gussie: of the disappearance of Edith Har- lan, “Now,” me what you should have told me at the trust company’s office last Monday.” “T have nothing to tell,” was the dejected . Féply. | “Not even the name of the person to whom you exhibited the check?” - Freeman shook his head. Fi “Well, ” said the detective, “I have fortu- ates been able to discover that much. You showed the check to Miss Edith Harlan, at her adopted father’s cottage, in Maple- Wood.” “J don’t understand how you learned that,” said Freeman. “Did she return the check?” © “I think she did.” : “Then how comes it that you did not have it in your possession on Monday aie “T don’t know.” “Did she take the check into her hand?” “Certainly. “She retained possession of it for some moments.” -- “Where were you at the time?” _ “In the parlor.” y “Were you near the writing-desk at the . time?” The young man seemed surprised at the detective’s evident knowledge of the paris and its furniture. ? “Yes, oie answered, “we were tear the “writing-desk at the time.” ““Who else was present?” _ * “No one.” _ “Who was in the house?” / “No one save the doctor and the servants.” “Did you remain in that one-room all the time you were in the house that night?” “No; we went to thie conservatory.” “ : “Before or after you exhibited the check?” - \ “After, said Nick, “perhaps you will tell — I do not remember of seeing the. oe after we returned to the parlor.” 19 ~ y Nick drew from. his pocket one of be sheets of paper taken from the writing-des Freeman turned -pale when he PaO : the sheet contained. — “Whose writing is that?” Galles Nick.” “Tt seems to be that of Doctor: Harlan.” “Tt is not your own?” “No; it is not mine.” It certainly did not resemble the handwrit- ing of the assistant book-keeper. /“Then, ” said Nick, “the: forgery must ‘ave been committed by Doctor Harlan.” “Tt does not seem possible.” ; “Are you certain,” asked Nick, “that, when you went into the conservatory, you, did not leave the check on the writing-desk?” “T do not think I did.” “Vet the doctor secured possession of it, erat Nes the blank, and copied the Signe: tures.” “There must be some mistake about it. ue ~ do not believe he would do such a thing. ~ Why, it would be sure to get me inte trouble.” “Granted, but then the doctor is not in- . clined to favor your suit, as I understand it.” . “No, he does not. He wants © ‘Edith’ te marry Malloy, for financial reasons.’! sae - “Now,” said the detective, putting the pa< per back into his pocket, “where were you last Sunday night?” “T decline to state.” “You are not helping 1 case by the cotirse you are pursuing,” said Nick, “for I know where you went that night.” Freeman turned paler than ever, but re~ ae silent. “You were,” continued Nick, ‘at a hotel in Englewood, in Company an Jasper Mal- loy. Is that true?” ee. “What were you on there?” Freeman shook his head. ne ‘can t be vane ‘ aS said, lf. Sy r —— SNE nes er \< Picea
Page 21
you. ~ covered in the house where you admit hav- 20 “Do you know what sort of a man Doctor Harlan is?” asked Nick. “Y am afraid he is a crank on the subject of anatomy.” “He-is all of that, and more, too,” said Nick, with a smile. “Do you know that he was at the Englewood Hotel on Monday morning?” “No; what was he there for?” ° “te went there to hold the room while Malloy presented the check at the bank for * payment.” “This is all news to me.” “Tell me why: you went to the hotel that night?” “T cannot do it.” “See where your refusal leaves you,’ the detective. Traces of the actual forgery are dis- * urged ing the check. The next night you are seen in an unusual place with the man who pre- The check from which the false paper was copied, which ought to be in your possession, cannot be sented the check for payment. found, Oh, we have a clear case against youl” “And yet I am innocent. _ that Jasper Malloy presented the forged pa- per for payment, him?” ee 3 “All in good time,” said Nick. close in until the game is sells trapped.” - “And yet you arrested me.’ “That was a matter of necessity. No other course would have Satisfied the trust com- pany and the bank.” why don’t. you arrest “J never “Well, you ought to arrest. Malloy and Doctor Harlan without delay. They are li- able to disappear at any moment.” “Are you aware,’ asked the detective, “that Doctor dartan is a grave robber?” : Bid & have suspected 16” “Does: Edith know?” NICK CARTER WEEKLY. _the truth out of that devil of a doctor,” “The bl k ch k is traced to e blank check is trace Freeman, Nick left. If you are sure — “once?” . age in tage In fact, he ‘deeded him most of his property. * “She never mentionéd the ‘atte to me,” but I think she does.” : “Is that why’ she went away?” “She has not gone away,” said the pris- } oner. Be ee ad peti to | her.” a : Be The young man pogns a his feet as ne spoke. “Tf I had my freedom,” fe at “Tad one “Who is the new Edith Harlan?” ase | Nick. : S “I don’t know. I never even heard of : her until my mother came here the other — day. I think, however, that she is the daugh- ; 4 ter of the doctor’ s helper.” = ae - Satisfied that he could learn nothing ioe: i and j 39 gnee his assist- x ant. “The young man may be the victim 1 of a conspiracy,” he said to Chick; “but he acts strangely. I should be inclined to favor. him, if he would tell me the truth about ee aoe at the Eogiewosd s Hotel.” = way.’ Where next?” g “To the road ieee o1 Sites cemetery.” ea ot trace ¢ Malloy? aed to arrest him at ~ “Certainly. Who saw hin there?” Ey “A young man who lives near the Ma loy residence on Dayton: street.” ae “Have you looked up the e Malloy famil “And Jasper has: cpectebly sq
Page 22
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. house. a dilapidated iy with a shady Teputation. The bartender remembered seeing Jasper : there, although he did not know him by * name. _. “Was he alone?” asked Nick. ES A AT “Did he call for a room?” - “T don’t know. You'll have to ask the elerk about that.” coe te clerk was soon found. “Yes,” he said, “the fellow had a room here, and a nice mess he made of it.” “May we see the room?” asked Nick. The clerk replied in the affirmative, and summoned a muscular woman who acted as ehambermaid, : After ascending a flight of stairs, the de- ~_ tectives were shown into a small room open- ing toward the rear of the house. _ “He must have had the jim-jams,” said “the woman, “for he broke the furniture and tore around like a madman.” At that moment another woman, passing through the hall, paused i in front of fs: pee door of the room and looked i lens ““They had a scrap in ere? with a wink and a curl of her coarse lips. */ “They?” repeated the chambermaid. . “What do you | mean by saying they?, There was only one man in the | room.’ “Oh, yes, there was!” replied the other, _ advancing into the room. Uy. dark-looking fellow, with gray hair, followed the young man into the room, ao they had a ae here, just as I told you.” ry 3 “This is becoming interesting,” thought _ Nick. For the second time in the history of the case the two conspirators had been traced toa room which only one of them was sane 5 “peea to occupy. Drie” Sa a eee et “What did os Satin, she said, elias went out?” asked the detective, turning to. the chambermaid. = “Oh, just a lot of torn papers,” was the reply. we - “What did you do with them?” The woman pointed to a waste-paper bas~ ket, and went on with her work. Nick closed the door of the room, and — dumped the contents of the Daseee on the table. Then both detectives set to work with a will. Soon the scraps of paper lay in a little heap on one corner of the table. ‘ ‘ There were not very many-of them. The whole pile was not enough to constitute one- half of a legal blank, which the printed form seemed to repfesent. Nick worked cautiously over the papers for a long time, then placed them in his pocket-book. “Well?” said Chick, wlio had eae cies ing whatever of the mess of ragged-edged scraps. “Tt is plain, ” began Nick, “that the doctor : came out here for some purpose of his own, : probably on his way to the cemetery, and found the young man here. - “Jasper got full enough to go to bed, and came to this room. Harlan followed him, and began urging him to complete some sort .of business they had between them. “That business involved the transfer of deeds. These scraps represent title deeds,, running to some unknown Pails and signed by Jasper Malloy.” “Ah! I begin to understand now Hie ; the doctor got his clothes torn that nee ‘said Chick. ; | “Don’t be in a hurry,” ak Nick, with a most exasperating smile. “The damage to” the doctor’s garments was not all done here? <3 “Go on,” said Chick, impatiently. oe 2 Zh two: ‘men ceeyee themselves i into Aye
Page 23
_ 22 rage,” resumed Nick, name from the deeds, which were probably drawn in favor of Doctor’ Harlan.” “So that is what they fought about? Well, when rogues ee out, honest men may come by: their own.’ “T can’t understand why Jasper should af giving Harlan deeds to real estate,” contin- ued Nick; “but it was probably on account of the daughter. At any rate, they fought, and that is all we know about it at present.” “Harlan may have some hold on Jasper,” suggested Chick. “Tn that case,” replied Nick, “the deeds would not have been destroyed before the doctor’s eyes. No, there was a sudden. quar- rel about Samet aa about the ~ forged check.” ‘ “Jasper changed his tected about steals it here all night,” said the assistant, “and he might have gone away with Harlan. The point is well worth looking up, it seems tomes! > 4. . “Right you are,” said Nick. “We will look it up at once, for what we desire to . know just now is, what has become of Jas- per Malloy?” The detectives went at once to the barn, where they interviewed the stable-boy. He knew Jasper by sight, for he had been NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “and Jasper tore his - “Did you see him when he came back?? — asked Nick. ; ; PY es2” “Was he walling?” “No, sir; Ke was riding in a carriage with another man,’ “Did they stop here?” - “No; it was late at night, and I was out 4 in the road witha lantern helping a drunken woman into a hack and they came driving along. That is how I came to see them.” ~~ “Do you know the. man he was with?” = “He was all muffled up. oy “Did either of the men speak to you?” “No; the yeting man was stiff drunk. HEY just sat back in the corner of the carriage and slept.” i “Might it not have been some other man you saw in the carriage?” eS ae “If it was some other “man; ae y ad on the young fellow’s coat and hat, and the sta- ble-boy, who was looking in at the back 4 win- dow of the carriage, thought he recognlzet there before, but he did not ‘know his name. “Yes,” he said, in answer to a question, “the man you describe came here alone and went wa alone.” “Which way did he go?” asked Nick. The stable-boy did not remember. “Hold on,” said a helper, stepping up, “I saw the man you ,speak of when he went away. He drove out to the gate, turned his team over to a fellow who had been trying _ to get him to go home, and. walked off to-” ward the, cemetery.” ‘Nick clutched his assistant by. the arm. ye thought so,” Chick heard him mutter. N ‘from the grave. his évil face.” “They were ped toward the aye ee “NES, Sits) J The. detectives turned aux without ane ; other word. Tae “You, remember ee. home that night?” asked 1 Nick, as they drove backgt ' “Yes; he took home a human body—just How, then, could Jasper % - Malloy occupy 4 seat in his carriage?” =. ‘ ae “Tt strikes me,” said Nick, “that the wis : est thing for us to do is to get: a look at the body in the rage vat at the Harlan cot A ui CHAPTER VI. ee Boy IN THE var.
Page 24
NICK CARTER WHEKLY. 2 eiaced in “hie vat that ai was the body of ~ Jasper Malloy?” _. Nick smiled, re L-don't liek sry chins about it,” he said. “It remains for us to ascertain the fact.” Sewhy should Harlan murder ‘Malloy?” “He may have threatened the doctor with ~ exposure. has led a very bad life.” “But Malloy. was' equally~ guilty, so far as the forgery-case is concerned.” Yes,” * “tor to have been guilty of murder. replied Nick; “but suppose the doc- The for- “gery case might send Malloy over ‘the road A tevealed murder, would send the: doctor ti to the gallows.” for a few years. “Well, > said Chick, drawing a long breath, “our little forgery case is developing 1 in Breet shape.” i “Tt seems sO, and the check we started out to fog is still missing.” ie it may have been destroyed.” a The fight at the road house may “Hardly. - shave been for the possession of that very bit of paper, de: deeds being brought in later, after the quarrel was ane under Wek Twon- | 2 der who has it now?” — aoe - “Then you think we shall find the check?” ‘ “T have not the least doubt of it.” reached the Harlan’ cottage. set ¢Dhes woman who had announced herself “as. the doctor’ 's wife was just_ driving away. I imagine that Doctor Harlan. t was” “afternoon | when the “ detectives” “We've got somethin’ to sell,” said Nick, with a? wink. “Then,” said the giant, the sneer changing - to a;scowl, “you'd better go to some one what wants to buy.” He attempted to close the door as he spoke, but Chick threw his shoulder against it and prevented his doing so. “You wasn’t behind the a when they gave out gall,” said the giant. “Get away from here, or it will be the worse for you.” “Look -here,? said Nick, “we done busi- - ness wid de doctor. w’en de people around here wasn’t.so mighty. fresh. You serid. for * de doctor, dat’s wot you dorte ; Fhe giant hesitated. - = He knew: that’ his master occasionally bought bodies of just such men as the de- - tectives appeared to be, and he did not dare send them away without knowing more about their business. ‘ He stepped away from the door, ee lowed the detectives to enter the’ little hall: way. ; “You wait here,” he 26a, “an’ PH go.and — call the doctor—that is, if he is at home. aie As. ‘the fellow disappeared, ‘the door | through which he > passed closed sia a sharp. click. : Nick, cautiously turned: the andie Ae, found ‘it locked. - “They don’t take chances here? he said, with a smile. ae 4 ay is 2 In a moment, however, the door ofened> oF She glance ced carelessly. at the: two rougl Sy again, and Doctor Harlan stood ee out “looking men, as they turned in at, the: gate LS 3 sand: gor to, the driver se: the cartiage- 2 to acer ; ans “you want?” De ie I eters sill up t to oe. eP. g ee ba a ts “We: want,” pees ‘same old business, 12 Greinke a at ‘them, ae “Ae ea “Well,” * he said, with a smile, ; “what o Pex Nick, t6 see you, on de ve “What business?” ~ At ace # Nick glanced atin with seeming suis- 7 bes will 3 “a you vant he demanded “Why pip. SS ie Neg hg Ooty Nagi ee don’ i know nothin about ‘wieae
Page 25
24 ness in a place like dis,” he said. “You take us| down where de bones is, an’ we'll open up.” The doctor, hesitated. “T don’t remember you,” he said. Nick started away, in seeming anger. ; “Yow re too gay,” he. said. some diggin’ on our own hook las’ night an’ thought you might want w’at we found, but, if you don’t, At’s all right.’”” “Foldion,” said the doctor. “If you have a specimen, I shall be glad to talk with you." -Step inside, please.” Before the detectives could accept the in- vitation, however, the helper drew his master aside and whispered something to him. ‘Harlan nodded, and turned back to the de- tectives. deat: you know,” ms small, so only one can come at a time. ae other may remain here with Ira.” : “All right,” said Nick. “I'll leave me chum here. If dere’s any monkey work, it won't go good. See?” ’ ~The doctor ‘stepped away, closely followed by the detective, and Chick was shown into a small reception-room. vThe; helper seated | himself in the same “apartment, and the two men sat facing each » other for some moments, each seemingly ob livious of the presence of the other. i Presently. there came from the diréction of - » reat of the cottage the sound of hurry- “ing foots pags. : po Ira sprang to his feet, — moved toward the door. Cg: ae r Then he paused a moment, and cas irs _ resolutely at the detective. es vy { 3: alone. NICK CARTER WHEKLY. . Ss se “We done he said, “my study i is. ~“¢ He was not: quite willing. +0 Teave! him there: pene ae The giant motioned him back. i “The doctor hasan insane woman in charge,” he ae amet suppose ae s raisin’ the devil ag’in.’ "He opened the door a little wider as he spoke, being careful to stand so that bis mas-_ ‘ sive *body obstructed the view of the ‘detec 7 tive. : ; ‘oe a i " alte 4- <4 ‘ ; q Just then the Bhs sarge ‘ an’s angry voice reached Chick’s ears. ae : “T’ll have you chained and whipped, if A you don’t behave yourself,” the voice said. . Ira opened the door and ee inroush 3 closing it after him. ° 3 “s In a moment. Chee stood with his hand on the knob. . we The door was locked, bat that deayea him vee an Foal te tee aia se ae hes 8 Near dt Chick (ahd fieclt in me sitting-room of. From the back of the house irk the i sound of sobbing, and Be hastened in ‘that direction. © eS, eee *“Getthe whip! people : are ere the cottage. Anes eit She’ always cuts “up when: vee the whip, qT sayl” =. harr ¢ servaters pe which’ “he ek such y. | 1c ores ee ; to remember. “ said anc ther yee eae ape me aH “Why am Uk “voice, “which?h
Page 26
Chick heard the sound of a blow, and then all was quiet. He crept along the passage, and stood at the entrance to the conservatory. ' There was no one in sight. _ The conservatory was empty, so far as hu- i man life was concerned. Then Chick heard a noise like the slam- - Ming of a trap-door. : In a moment the heavy steps of the giant were heard approaching the place where the - detective stood. Chick cautiously retraced his steps, and when Ira entered the reception-room he found the detective just where he had left him. “What! did you go out there for?” de- manded the giant. “Out where?” é “Out there in the conservatory. Oh, you needn’t say you didn’t, for I heard your footsteps on the floor, over my head.” So the cries had come from the basement. That was just what Chick wanted to know. “AL thought I might be of some use,” he said. - women alone.” The giant glanced at Chick ‘saapiconn “You'd better look out where you go and “what you do in this house,” he said. “We . don’t stand no foolishness here,” + “Oh, come off,” said Chick. “You ain’t ~ half so tough as you look.” F ain’t afraid of you. I could sell you all over de road.” _, The giant sprang forward with an oath. “ee Tt was evident that he intended to punish = the seeming tough there and ahem: Chick threw himself into position, ‘but at =o that instant the voice of. the doctor was heard ait the adjoining room. : “Tral” , NICK CARTER WEEKLY. _ giant. mst ain't a good job to handle mad the giant dropped his huge fists to his side, - and hastened to the door. “Tl attend to you directly,” he said, bake ing back with a fierce scowl on his face. He closed'the door behind him, and the detective again heard the sharp clink of the lock. : e The doctor evidently was much excited, for his voice rang out so that the listening detective had no difficulty in hearing what was being said. “Where’s that other tough?” he demanded. “Where you left him,” was the sullen re- ply. S Welly said the doctor, “the one who went to the surgery with me has given me the slip.” The giant’s reply was an oath, “When we got to the operating room,” continued the doctor, “I left him standing there for a moment while I went into the_ conservatory, and when I returned he was not there.” “Where did he go, then?’ demanded the “He didn’t pass out by the front door.” rege “He must have gone into the vat room in the basement,” replied the doctor, “for I went there at once, and fotind that the cover of the vat had been removed.” Chick heard the giant laughing grimly. “He didn’t take the body away, did he?” the giant said, in a moment. “It was a piece of carelessness to let him get there.” “No, the body is all right,” was the re- ply. “You had better send the other fel- low away, and come down and help look him ipa. ae Chick started for the front entrance. “Nick has secured the information he wanted,” he thought; “but I don’t under- - stand why he left the place so suddenly.” The tone was - eee and ae otes and _ ‘With his hand on the knob of the door,
Page 27
\ 26 Chick, paused again, attracted by the doctor's voice. > “I believe,” that worthy was saying, “that the fellow came here to try and identify the body in the vat. We must not allow him to leave the house.” “He’s probably out before this time,’ the giant. “Now,” thought Chick, softly opening the door and stepping out on the porch, “I won- der if the racket with the girl had anything to do with Nick’s sudden departure?” The detective was hardly off the porch, when the street door opened and the giant and the,doctor appeared in view. said the latter. “Your : chum wants you to help him.” “Come back here,” “TJ don’t wait no longer in that place,” said Chick. “Dat bully of oy tried to put a head on me just now.’ 5 The giant started tone the walk ona run, but Chick was too swift for him. When the fellow reached the street, Chick was some distance away, walking leisurely along just behind a patrolman in uniform. house. Chick met his chief half a block Aeon the | street. “Haven't you alarmed the fellows by mak- _ing such a quick sneak?” asked the assistant, “T am afraid so,” was the reply; “but it~ could not be helped, The result is that we've got to work fast for a little while.” “What did you see down there?” “I saw the real Edith Harlan, bound and gagged, and lying faint and suffering on the floor of a foul basement.” . CHAPTER VIL. THE CHECK IN THE GRAVE, “My God!” exclaimed Chick, “what can be the meaningof that?” me “We haven’ t time to find out at resent,” . os = b , 2 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. * said ; : ‘but I am_ sure. The giant turned back, and entered the intend searching the house for you,” he replied Nick. “We must a out to the cem- etery as soon as possible.” “Where did you leave ie girl?’ Nick laughed and walked on for a moment without ‘Speaking. “Where do you think i left her?” ee” asked. sail have no idea.” , “Well, I left her in one Oe the closets - where the doctor keeps his skeletons.” “Rather close quarters, 1 should say.” “No, there is plenty of room, and I threw ~ Be in.a lot of rugs and blankets for her to re~ She will do very well there until 3 we get back.” “Then you got out without Bcd at the cline on. body in the vat?” “By no means, The body i in the vat is not the body of Jasper Malloy.” : You know the piekte : changes countenances wonder fully, and this i body must have best in the brine for three days.” “Yes; “Are you suré? I didn’t have Pick time in there, : ; You see, after’ I got the — a girl out I had to make a quick skip or have a battle with the doctor and his Siant. We could have defeated them, but I am tired of As this knock-out business. Besides, when we arrest the doctor, IT want to have the case ie close right. there.” 3 “Yes,” ” said Chick, Pho ittaliye a sup- = pose they would have jumped on. to. you — about the disappearance of the girl. The’ giant suspected me of taking too much ae terest in the affairs of the house.” i “They certainly would have done so,” said shir Nick, “and\such an affray would have been premature, Remember, we oie t found” our check yet.” — “But won't they look i in the loa ae ‘the girl? I know from what I heard Ane they “I think not. d sgot pee sO a
Page 28
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. aback a rear agen that they will think I took her with me.’ “Well, ‘now, what about the Selves asked Chick, “Can’t you imagine?” “T have an idea.” “Well, the doctor. brought a body home with him that night, didn’t he?” “Certainly.” “And brought it home in a carriage?” “Undoubtedly.” “And the body was what the stableman saw.at the road-house?” “I don’t know about that. “ You must rec- ollect that the person with the doctor wore Jasper Malloy’s hat and coat. The doctor may have had the body later on,” “Hardly. Well, if I am right; this shows that the doctor had his hands on the young man after they had the fight at the road- house. If it does not, I have additional } proof of the-fact.” “Well?” Nick took a narrow piece of leather from his pocket. “Do you know what this is?” he asked. “Certainly. It is part of the sweat-band , of a hat.” : et So peat “Do you see that name?” asked Nick, _ turning the bit of leather over in his hand. ” “But.the hat was there at the house,” said Chick, “and the body in the carriage wore | Malloy’s things. Are you dead sure the body in the yat is not the body of sas Malloy?” - “Dead sure,” replied Nick. “Then,” said Chick, “we know where to look for the body of Jasper Malloy?” “Ves” “Because the fight must have taken place . in the cemetery, or the dead body would not have been covered with Mater. 's coat and hat.” “Exactly.” ie es ee “And when. the deadly: blow was “struck, there was an open grave right there. It is | horrible.” “Yes,” said the detective. “Harlan, if he did murder Malloy, probably disposed of the body in the easiest way.” “Most undoubtedly.” There was no need to continue the con- versation. ee = The detectives understood each other thoroughly; so words were useless. The rig they had used on the trip to the 7 - road-house stood at a barn not far away, _ Chick started back with ¢ an exclamation of — 3) surprise Vigo na ' The name on the sweat-band was that of _ Jasper Malloy. : “Where did you find it?” Chick asked, in a moment. y “On the floor, by the pickling + vat. The doctor must be an economical fellow. He : ; cut this out in order to save the hat.” ““T begin to see what you are driving at,” ~ said Chick. “Tt is all very horrible.” i “Yes.” said Nick, “Malloy probably ‘met his fate when he went out to the cemetery that yey oe and the detectives lost no time in getting ist In five minutes they were driving swiftly toward the cemetery. They reached the place about four o’clock in the afternoon, and at once went to the office of the superintendent. “First,” said Nick, “we must find out who : was buried’here on Monday. It is the newly- _ made graves we want to investigate. The- doctor would not ‘be likely to resurrect a body that had been in the ground long.” The list was soon in the possession of the detectives. It was a very short one, for there are usit- ally few burials on. Monday. 4 eS pe
Page 29
28 ‘Only a few men had been buried there on that day. ‘The man in charge of the prota looked suspiciously at the two detectives as they moved about, but said nothing. He, however, sent a man to watch them: The third grave they located showed evi- dences of having been disturbed. Nick called the watchman to his side. “Were you here on Monday night?” he asked. = The watchman nodded.’ “Did you hear any unusual noise in. this part of the cemetery?” “Yes; there was a great racket here about midnight, or shortly after, but we could dis- cover nothing.” “Did you come to this spot?” “No.” “Well, a body was taken from this ceme- tery Monday night, and it is probable that it was taken from this eyes Gal your men, and tell them to open it.” _. “That’s all very well,” replied the fellow;. ~ “but IT want to see your authority first.” Nick showed his badge, and also exhibited a paper, disclosing his name. “That is satisfactory to me,” said the watchman; “but I shall be Se to consult with the superimgendent,” “Make haste, then,’ said Nick, “for it will soon be dark.” The superintendent was soon on the spot, and then work was commenced. See,” said Nick, pomting to the soft. earth » being turned out by the spades of the labor- 2 ers, “the grave has been tampered with. We _ : ; left the cemetery. are on the right track at last.” “You expect to find it empty?” asked the superintendent. — : “Wait until they get to the bottom,” was the reply. : At last the implements of the diggers sounded on the top of the rough box inclos- ing the coffin. _\ “The cover has been moved,” shouted one of the men, “Now,” said Nick, turning to the superin- —tendent, “I want to open the box myself. Please tell your men to come up.” The superintendent did as requested. NICK CARTER AWE: cy. eae grave has been robbed.” of paper. Nick sprang into the open grave, and aaet fully brushed away the remaining earth. ; ; The superintendent bent over as Nick raised the box cover. : “The coffin is open,” he shouted. “The The next instant a cry of terror "sprang from the lips of the grave- ~diggers. ce “No,” they said, “the body is there, but — it is covered with blood. ‘The man must Kua have been buried alive.” gp Chick was not slow in springing ae the grave. The face in the coffin was the face of Jasper Malloy. ie He had been struck on the head with some — 4 blunt instrument, and cast into the coffin — while still bleeding—possibly while still d ae, alive. Nick carefully unbuttoned ee on “and vest of the murdered man and reached. his hand into an inner pocket. — When he removed The paper was crete er Sie i Bat was easily identified. . It was the forged check for eighty a Re sand dollars. : The doctor had buried it in the pone: with his victim. captcha = There must ave been a He struggle Ee "CHAPTER ul. Ps a IN “PHE DISSECTING- ROOM, eat was nearly dark when the detectives Before taking their departure, they. ‘awses a the coroner to be notified, and made other — arrangements for the removal of the body. Bo “Now,” said Nick, as they drove” away, “we can close the case before we ‘sleep, and we shall soon know, something about Free- man’s connection with the forgery.” “The more I think of it,” said Chick; “the young man is innocent.” See “Why do you think that?” asked Ro “Because the young. fellow has an excel. lent reputation everywhere, and because the other ye are See tough. ates
Page 30
_ “T have better reasons than that for be- : ed him to be innocent,” said Nick. _ “What are they?” ~ “Tn the first place,” replied Nick, “Free- man would not have lost his check if he ‘had been in the conspiracy. If he had known of the making of the fraudulent pa- Own check where he could place his hands on it,” * “Tt seems so.’ _ “This would have relieved him of the sus- Picion of having allowed the good aes to be used. as a copy in making the bad one.” er see,” * «8 then, he would never have men- _ tioned showing the salary check to any one. If guilty, he would have been on his guard, and would have had a plausible story to tell about how the blank check might have be- - come detached from the salary check.” ~<“And yet, with all these things in his fa- vor, you have kept him in prison.” “Ves, ” replied Nick, “but you must re- ~ member the part he played at the hotel. He Persistently refuses to. explain ss he met Jasper Malloy there that night.” -. ®That looks black for him.” “Decidedly so.” It was dark when they reached the Harlan cottage. _ A dim light was burning in the sitting- - -Yoom, and a reflection on the conservatory Windows showed that somé one was OceEDys ing the dissecting-room. _ “There are two desperate men in there,” Said Nick, “and we must capture them both. We may have a fight for it, but I think we ~ shall win. We have not time to send word _to Patsy, or any of the others.” “may be a harder case than either of the men.” “That is true,” was the reply, “but the -so'I will pay my attentions to him.” ~ “How are you going to get into the house?” ’ a s2 the same way I got out this afternoon,” was the reply. “You must make a change of some kind and get into the front room. _and the woman while I capture the doctor.” sore NICK CARTER WEEKLY. — per, he would have been careful to have his. & “You forget the woman,” said Chick. “She : . ce is the one we want the most of all, — - Perhaps you can keep your eye on the giant: 29. “I can try,” replied Chick. “They are both dangerous,” said Nick, “so be careful.” Nick hastened toward the rear of the cot- tage, and Ghick, who had assumed the dress of a prosperous physician in a convenient ~ place on the way down, walked up to the door and rang the beli. The giant answered the summons, stand- ing with his bulky person in the little open- ing. “TI want to see Dr. avon said the de- tective. 2 The giant was evidently suspicious. “What do you want of the doctor?” he demanded. “He is tired out, and does not care to meet patients to-night.” ee a “I am a physician,” was the reply, “and wish to consult with him in regard to a case. of surgery.”’ The giant grudgingly opened the door, and admitted the seeming doctor to the re- . ception-room. There he glanced at every detail of the detective’s dress, but failed to recognize him. as the young man he had chased into y the wet street a few hours before. ‘His scrutiny over, the giant stepped ae the door of the sitting-room and called out to some one there. The next moment the beatttiful woman who had announced herself as Mrs. Harlan made cher appearance. | Se! am afraid you cantiot see the doctor to-night,” she said, with a smile. “He is tired, and very busy.” Chick explained the supposed shied of | his visit, and the woman hesitated. , Doctors like to be consulted on the sub-— ject of their hobby, and surgery was Har- lan’s hobby. She did not dare send the man away without consulting her husband. ~~ “Well,” she said, in a moment, “you may wait here until I see my husband. He may be.induced to: meet you.” The woman left the room, leaving the giant in charge of the unwelcome visitor. Tn a moment Chick heard a commotion in the direction of the dissecting-room, “Now, how “Nick is there,” he thought. am I to handle this big fellow?” Siete Mee
Page 31
30. Just then a‘scream of fright eame from the rear of the cottage. “The devil is in this place to-day,” tered the giant, making for the door. Chick saw his opportunity, 4nd took ad- vantage of it. One quick spring, and he had the burly fellow by the throat. One dexterous movement of his body, and Tra lay upon the floor, half-stramgled and foaming. with rage. The giant was the stronger man) of the two, but he was taken entirely by surprise, and he found it impossible to break the hold of the detective. In a moment he was, handcuffed, Chick taking good care to put a strong pair of irons on the fellow, and also to bind his feet. — ; “Now, my fine fellow,” he said, mut- “we shall - soon know what sort of a den you keep here.” The giant was incapable of replying. Chick turned toward the door, and then walked back to his prisoner. carpeted floor like a dead man. “JT don’t think I can trust you, ” he paid “Take a little of this to quiet your nerves.” As he spoke, Chick took a bottle of. chloroform from his pocket, handkerchief with it, and held it to the nas- saturated a trils of the struggling giant. Before long he quieted down, lying on the The. chlo- roform had done its work rapidly and well. Chick had hardly completed this task . when a struggle was heard in the dissecting- Y room, and the woman called out: “Father! Come here, quick.” — tl think Nick must be getting in ins work, ” thought the detective, hastening in ‘the direction of the sound. ‘When he reached the door of the dissect- ing-room, } Nick was nowhere to be seen. The doctor was there, fighting like mad with the girl Nick had concealed in the skele-. ton closet. -- In attempting to escape, a moment after the detectives had entered the house, the girl had been discovered by the doctor, and was now fighting hard for her liberty. “Here comes father,” NICK CARTER WEEKLY. man. who came here that nig ai said the voice of | the doctor’s wife, as the footsteps of the de- *% eels tective sounded on the floor outside. “We . shall soon see who is master here” In the confusion of the struggle m the dissecting-room, no one had noticed the : noise of the scuffle in the sitting-room. As Chick stepped into the— “room, the . woman looked up and saw who it was “= = had entered. - ie “Flow ' dare you come here uninvited?” : she demanded, springing toward him with the look of a devil on her handsome Just then the door leading to the conserv- erv= = atory opened, and Nick Carter stepped ihto the room. : He was dressed, just as he had beets dressed on the zak of his wen F = ports of fright. Sas oe The girl lay upon the floor, Hh ‘die ae > tor had thrown her, and Nick at once ads vanced to her side. ue <F “Come, doctor” he said, “T he business. to settle with Bios ie hands off that girl.” 7 =, Before the doctor cou eae. do a ou protect himtself, he was eo pisces ina mag 2 : ae staring eyes. Chick had no difficulty in pla i on her shapely wrists. “It is a disagreeable duty o help her manacled hands at Nick. +‘ the conservatory window. ; succeeded in killing you then!” — f The doctor remained silent, but his looked like those of a madman. : : Nick stepped to the place where lay, in a half faint, and ponselly.: assi to arise. 2 “That's right,” inked the wor for her gently. ‘She will soon 1 yous, reach. She is a forger. ee
Page 32
F,. pr, finding” this voice, his pocket... “For forgery,” he said, “and iat murder. + found this im Jasper Malloy’s grave. Was he dead when you put him there?” The doctor groaned, and his face became | deathly pale.~ -*Tt’s all wp with me,” he said. ae. “Keep your mouth shut,” said the woman. _ \Yes,” said Harlan, “he was dead when I threw ‘him into the coffin. He attacked me in the cemetery, and I killed him. in self defense.” dly throat,” hissed the doctor’s wife. “Tt is-no use, to struggle,” said = doc- pt r. “These men have ts in a corner.” u come to leave it in his pocket?’ _) “The fight was partly over the check,” was eply. “He wouldn’t let me have it. i nt to take it from his dead body, but. I 10. I heard some one approaching le haste to throw ein body into the Murderers always make some mistake,” d Nick. Sal made a mistake in trusting the matter © Jasper at all,” was the reply. “Tf he had been square, anything but a fool and a gam- bler, everything would have gone as con- “templated. I did not know as the check choy be used, after his foolishness at the hotel, but I did not want to leave it in his hands.” > ON c turned to the girk | “Who wrote the forged check?” he titted 2 “It’s a lie! is rt. Freeman’s check from the desk d them planning the murder of _ “' NICK CARTER WENKLY, For SA am I facet asked the doc-. _ Nick took the blood-stassied check ee “Tf T only had my hands on your ie ®About the check,” said Nick, “how did” he woman who calls herself Dr, Har 3, you did,” continued the a 2 “You coctimet ee ent “and aad Seth nes es, caught me listening. “But why should they want to: kilt efveie partner in crime?” asked the detective. “Because he was acting ugly about the property he was to give the doctor when { became his wife, and because he was not willing to surrender the check. Then, he had acted so foolishly, they ‘said, that they: had no further use for him.” : “That clears up everything but one @ point,” said Nick. “Can you tell me why Edward Freeman went to the Englewood hotel last Sunday night—why he was acscet in ica ted with Jasper Malloy?” “Yes,” replied the girl, blushing deeply. _ “He went there because Jasper Malloy asked That is one reason : they wanted to kill me.” ; him to. Jasper was to convince him that — night that 1 was unfit to become the wife of any one but himself.” Ba ” said Nick, “that accounts for Free- man’s silence on that point. He did not care to bring your name into the case at all, least of all, in sucha way. aa “They got him there that night,” contin- ued the girl, ‘ from which the false check was to be cashed. li you had not in some way discovered that he had been there, the: officers would have been told to ask him why ‘he was there that night in the room of the man who aiter- ward presented the check for payment.” ‘to connect him: with the hotel ~ ot “You suspected something was going: ‘on, ‘and listened?” “Yes; and it nearly cost me my life. Only for your coming here to-day, I should have . died in the vat vault.” - “So you released her, did your” foamed the doctor’s wife. “T always try to aid ladies in distress,” said. Nick, with a bow. “Wait until my father comes down,” said the woman, “and you'll see. He is more than a match for you both.” | ~ “Your father, if you refer to the giant,” said ‘Chick, “has an engagement with the Taw pout, this time. . down.” Sey tet “Have you captured him?” ; - “Certainly.” “You must be a devil!” _ “No,” said’ see 7 a ae a» He will need come
Page 33
cae 18l—In the Clutch of the Law; . 32 “Don’t let that woman get away,” said Edith. “She is the worst one of the lot. The plot at first was to make me marry Jas- “per Malloy, and get his property in that way. .Then he was blamed for the check not being cashed, and he became angry and refused to deliver the deeds, which had al- ready been drawn, or to give up the check. Then, when I knew what was going on, and i it was proposed to murder me, Jasper ob- . jected, and that. was another reason for put- ~ ting him out of the way.” The detectives had heard enough. The prisoners were removed to the police station, and Nick and his assistant hastened to the place where Freeman was confined. The young man was released at once, and lost no time in reaching home, Edith hav- ing already gone to Mrs. Freeman’s, there to remain until her marriage with Edward. Nick and Chick were paid a very large fu _THE BEST LIBRARY OF DETECTIVE STO} LATEST ISSUES: i8}—-Saved from the Piitentiary: or, Three Cheers ‘or Nick Carter, 182—"The Blood-Stained Check; or, Nick Carter in the Dissecting-Room, or, Chain of Hvidence. 180—The | Government Custom’s Swindle; or, Nick Carter’s Work for the U. 8, Treasury. W9—Nick Carter’s er name Decoy; or, The Diamond Duke of Chicago, 178—-Nick Carter ae The Body a Client; or, Found in the Fl % 1/7—Nick Carter’s Dumb Assistant; or, The Man with a Dead Brain. 176—Nick Carter Behind the Counter; or, A Peck of ' Pawn Tickets fis—Nick ante s Pointer: or, A Hungry Dog’s Din- i4—By Whose Hand; or, Nick Carter Advertises for a Cab-Driver. 179—Caught in Six Hours; or, Trouble in Room No. : 6. 4 172—Burglar Joey or, Nick Carter's Lea su in the Dark, IW1—Nick Carter's Little Shadow; or, The Man with Yellow Dog the Ui-Cauat be ‘Blectriclty; or, Nick Carter Bags an : ld O 169—Unmasked by “Nick Carter; or, An Attempt at Bla 168—Nick | C Carter's Second Sight; or, A Dumfounded riso 167—Nick Carter Makes a Loan That Brings Him Big F Ret 16¢—Nick Carter Prevents a Disturbance, and Loses a, Disguise. 165—Nik AEBS in a Hole; or, A Plan to Catch Him idn’t_ Work, 104_Nick, Carter Off. ae ‘Track, but Has Another String to His Bow NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Nick Carter's _ . 149—Nick Carter Wxchanges Prisoners; o —M47—Nick Carter's Turn at the Wheel; or, Back numbers always on hand. Tf. you cannot get ow, fs copy will bring them to you by mail, postpaid STREET & : SMITH, Publishers ee a sum for their services in the cag man was advanced by the trust a position much better than he $ pected to occupy. 3 Dr. Harlan was hanged for: Malloy, and his wife and her received twenty pat for their affair. Jasper Malloy’s ecu died died a poor man, ‘his ‘gon away nearly all the estate. — Dr. Harlan had also robbed. good deal of property. One of the curiosities now to bi Nick Carter’s private room is ac stained check for eighty. ‘thousand. dc The next number of the Nici WEEKLY will contain ‘‘Saved fro aoe or, Three Cheers for J Ch 162—Nick € Canter Het a Lite, and Har e ge Corners a Ban 1)—Ni@iiince That Wag. Grated) foe a as Crooked, 100—Nick ers Steam “trunk; x) id-Ocean, .— i eset Carter’s_ New J 158—Nick Cart ‘the Sawdust Ma : or eat Caused Trouble. arter aS an Expert; or, A (RI 2. eat an aap c er's ent Search; oy te a atin c arter’s Curious Client; with More Gall than Sense. z 154—Nick Carter Settles a pone, That Wasn't Signed. 153—Nick Carter's Midnight Caller; 0 cluded Before eth cre: : nome Carter's Fake Murder Cas 0 Wipe Out the Agency. - 151—Nick Carter Stands a_ Blu : Which Ends in Limbo. 150—Nick Carter's. Bests: Bargain; or, Ou Duplicate Methods. — ness Hasily Explained. 148—Nick Carter’s Snap Shot; or, A Phot Gave Evidence. _ ack Both the Same. 1U6—Nick ‘Carter's tt 3 for Life; or, Nick of ses tee Carter’s Mi anight “Arrest; 6 tion of ‘a Poker Game. publications from
Page 34
for this, andthere is. Prank Merr shining light for every ambitious lad to follow. 200—Frank Merriwell’s Skates ; or, Into the Ice Trap. 201—F rank Merriwell’s Ice Yacht; or, Wing and Wing. 202—Frank Merriwell’s Sleigh; or, Warm Hearts and Brave Hands. : 203—Frank Merriwell’s Musketeers; or, The Mountain Vendetta. 204—Frank Merriwell’s Opponent ; or, For the Ice Hockey up. Gerreaeue Merriwell Deceived; or, A Heart. of old. 206—Frank Merriwell’s Mishap; or, A Friend in the Guise of a Foe. ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY. The Tip Top Weekl AND THE FRANK MERRIWELL STORIES. No modern series of tales for boys and youth has met with anything like the cordial reception and | accorded to the Frank Merriwell Stories, published in Street “& Smith’s TIP TOP which has to-day a circulation rk ld than that of all similar publications combined. There must be well, as portrayed by the author, is a jolly, wholesouled, honest, cou American lad, who appeals to the hearts of the boys. fi the: idea that itis not tenn I for a boy to indulge in petty vices to be a hero, Frank Merriwell’s example is a THE FOLLOWING ARE THE LATEST IssuES: ral \ 5c. PER COPY. MORE LIBRARIES TO SUIT “TIP TOP”’ READERS. ularity lication | @ reason WEEKLY, a p le has no bad habits, and his manliness inculcates the. 207—Frank Merriwel}'s Influence; or, Inza, the Mascot — of the Crew. ee om 208—Frank Merriwell’s Theory ; or, A Fight for Bric 209—Frank Merriwell’s Five; or, Old Friends at Yale. ah ae Merriwell’s Honor; or, The Nobility of | adger, Mr ii 211—Frank Merriwell’s Reward; or, Buck nade Humiliation. debs 212—Frank Merriwell’s Football; or, The Disappearance of Jack Ready. g eae Merriwell’s Handicap; or, The Heroism of sie. 32 PAGES AND ILLUMINATED COVER. The Do and Dare Weekly. PHIL RUSHINGTON, THE ACTOR-MANAGER. as (T ees and Dar e Weekly ’* tells of the exploits and adventures. of one PHIL RUSHINGTON, a ‘hustling, bright and brave American boy—a first-class all-round athlete, and a thorough gentleman the phases of his eventful career. The author of these stories is MR. STANLEY NORRIS, an able writer. thoroughly in sympathy with the wants of our boys and girls in the line of reading. His work is bound tn 7 a The following are the latest issues: 6—Phil Rushington’s Danger; or, A Bright Light for Friends 7—Phil Rushington’s Friends; or, Springvale Boys ina Lumber Camp. scant Rushington’s New Role; or ‘The Play’s the 11—Phil Rushington’s Great Show ; or, Another Whirl o: Fortune’s Wheel. 9) gabe Rushington’s Star Rider; or, Rivals of Ring. fe i 18—Phil Rushington’s Home Trip; or, Two Kinds of a y ine Circus. _ DES,» iis ushington’s Soubrette; or, The Rockdale | 14—Phil Rushington’s Loss; or, A Lion Hunt in Success, ’ ; ‘ity On ae : 10—Phil Rushington’s Set Back; or, Fast Friends and dity. . ] h 15—Phil Rushington’s Rivals; or, Three Shows in. Fickle Fortune. Town. : The ‘Do and Dare Weekly’ appears every Tuesday. 32 pages, in size and style with ‘‘ Tip Top,’’ THE BEST RAILROAD STORIES EVER WRITTEN. TOM WRIGHT, the hero of “‘ Comrades,”’ is a bright boy who has decided to devote his life to the service of (*K Steam ”’ in one of the great railroads of our land. Rest assured he will reach fame and fortune on the lightnin express. The life ofan ambitious railroad man is full of exciting incident, and Tom has his full share of ade ventures. Through all of these, he will be found Wright by name, right in word, right in deed, anc always right. The many adventures of Tom and his friends will be followed with the deepest interest by all who are fortunate enough to read this new series of splendid stories. surrounded by several ‘‘comrades,’’ who join hands with him and stand by himinhis enterprises. [R. ROBERT STEEL is an author of wide experience in the; field cove by these stories, and his work will please all who admire the well-known “ Tip To Weekly” and ‘‘ Do and Dare Weekly,” to which ‘‘Comrades’’ will be a companion. SCeBeG Beh eBoh Beh oh ob 8 Bokeh ek ab eB ahah ok BoB ek eB eb ok Ab oR eB at eB ed eh ok ab oR ab aR as aC oh eRe eR eg o6 He 1—Tom Wright on Trial; or, A Clear Track to Success, 2—Tom Wright, Station Agent; or ‘Saying a Superin- tendent.” 8—Tom Wright at the Throttle ; or, The Belle of the Mid- night Speeia), ; 4—Tom Wright, the Railroad Favorite ; or, The Raid on the Through Express. 5—Tom Wright, Car Finder; or, The Search for 1813. Ny . Remember, “‘Comrades”’ appears every Wednesday-Read it—Price 5c. 32 pages, illuminated cover, uniform in size and style with ‘‘ Tip Top.”’ 3505 8505 B59SBE BEB BEDS BENS BUNS BUNS BS NSGE ISBN BETS BENE IT 6—Tom Wright's Fast Run ; or, The Million-Dollar Trai 7—Tom Wright’s Choice; or, The Engineer's Strange digit ¢ na : Samoa Woe on the Flyer; or, The Missing Expre ackage. 4 ‘ 9—Tom Wright's Resolve ; or, A Railroad Chum’s Noble Sacrifice. i: 10—Tom minabs on Duty ; or, A Battle Against Railroad Crooks. j vee ey Th ty iter es i 7 44" MORE fs